The structure, which is home to 80 fish, has a wall of concrete blocks surrounding it and the entire garden is surrounded by a 6ft wooden fence.

Kevin claims his landlords, Sovereign, started complaining when he added two extra concrete blocks around the water’s edge to stop his one-year-old daughter, Olivia, falling in.

The housing association has now threatened the dad and his partner with an eviction notice unless they demolish the pond within three weeks.

Kevin, of Abingdon, Oxon., said: “I was thinking of my daughter’s safety and was building it up another two blocks.

“I had it at the old height for about 15 years and it’s never been a problem.

“The reason they gave was if someone breaks into the back garden they can fall in the pond because there’s a six-foot fence all round and they can’t see it. I said ‘well they shouldn’t be breaking in’.”

Kevin’s fish, including Koi carp , fantails and goldfish, are currently swimming in a small covered pond at the bottom of his garden while he extends their normal home.

But he has also been ordered to get rid of the second pond – because it “could impact on the safety of the residents or general public”.

A spokeswoman for Sovereign, said: “We don’t want to prevent anyone enjoying hobbies which may include fish keeping in a garden pond but, as the landlord, we do ask residents to get our permission if they intend running a business from their home or building a permanent structure.

“Due to the substantial size of the pond we’re talking to our insurance company and with the resident about how we might resolve this.”

She did not comment on Mr Sheehan’s claims about the pond posing a risk to burglars and Sovereign also failed to confirm if other residents in the area had been asked to remove their ponds.